20 Jan 2017

Los Angeles, CA – January 20, 2017 – Ahead of its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Content Media Corporation has been selected to represent international sales to Evgeny Afineevsky’s buzzed about Syrian civil war documentary “Cries from Syria”.

Content’s President of Film Jamie Carmichael and EVP Sales and Distribution, Jonathan Ford, will begin introducing the documentary feature to distributors at the EFM in Berlin next month.

Directed by Academy Award® and Emmy® nominee Evgeny Afineevsky (“Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom”), “Cries from Syria” is a strikingly intense portrayal of a dire situation in Syria and serves as a potent record of the events that have transpired there since 2011. Inspired by the Arab Spring, Syrians were hopeful they could end their country’s 40-year reign of brutal dictatorship. Instead, their efforts yielded horrific consequences as the government swiftly punished those in opposition, demonstrating their ruthlessness by targeting and torturing children. As peaceful protests were held, the government retaliated with extreme force, resulting in a full-blown civil war.

From cutting off the food supply to the use of chemical weapons and targeted airstrikes on hospitals and schools, those fighting for freedom have endured a grave humanitarian crisis. Incorporating gripping firsthand accounts from activists, child protesters, and a former army general who joined the uprising, director Evgeny Afineevsky has created a powerful and immediate depiction of the recent and current situation in Syria. This compelling documentary bears witness to the resiliency of the people in the wake of their exposure to unthinkable crimes against humanity.

Content’s Jamie Carmichael said, “It’s understandable why many people struggle to process the tsunami of devastating news coming out of Syria, but Evgeny Afineevsky’s extraordinary film vigorously cuts through the noise, and dramatically shows us the human cost of the war through the eyes of children and the innocent. This film might change your world view and is a must see – we’re proud to help Evgeny, David and their team on this very powerful, and compelling film.”

“Cries From Syria” includes the original song “Prayers for this World,” written by Grammy and Emmy® winner and Oscar® nominee ?Diane Warren, and recorded by Cher along with the West Los Angeles Children’s Choir.

This deal marks the second acquisition of a Sundance doc for Content within as many days. The company made a deal yesterday for international rights to CNN Film’s “Legion of Brothers” directed by Greg Barker. “Legion of Brothers” tells the story of the Special Forces troops that were deployed to Afghanistan immediately after the ?September 11 attacks, for a secret war initiated by the United States government.

Content Media Corporation is a global entertainment media company based in London with offices in Los Angeles, New York and Toronto, which owns and distributes a significant library of film, television and digital assets. Content Media Corporation’s catalogue contains in excess of 275 theatrical feature titles plus library rights to more than 5,400 hours of TV programming incorporating major drama series, non-fiction entertainment, special event programming, kids’ series, TV movies and mini-series. The company also owns significant stakes in Collins Avenue, an LA based entertainment TV production company, Spirit digital media, a digital production company, and film and television production companies Jigsaw Productions, Campfire and Aito Media Group.